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Abstract Explanations for police behavior argue that “us versus them” group dynamics shape officer interactions with the public. Yet, studies on racial disparities in policing overlook the interpersonal networks central to scholarship on group boundaries. We integrate insights from the literature on networks, group identity, and intergroup relations to consider how social network size and racial composition affect racial disparities in police officer use of force, and how those social network effects are conditioned by officer race. We test our perspective by analyzing newly collected longitudinal network data on the friendship relations between officers in one large department and linking these data to administrative records on officer use of force. The number of friendship ties to other officers is associated with within-officer increases in use of excessive force against Black victims, but not against White victims. Ties to White officers are only associated with use of excessive force against Black victims and only among Black officers. These findings suggest that social network integration contributes to racial disparities in police use of force and carries broader implications for intra- and intergroup discrimination in organizations characterized by strong institutional attachments.
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This content will become publicly available on January 29, 2027
The Role of Networks in Policing
Social ties are a defining feature of policing. They enforce norms, carry prestige, reward loyalty, silence dissent, create cohesion, and protect group boundaries. Network analysis maps these ties—from assigned partners to the colleagues officers text and meet for off-duty drinks—and examines how they shape daily actions and law enforcement culture. This review highlights key studies using network approaches to understand policing. By putting relations at the forefront, these studies build on foundational police scholarship and open new ways for investigating policing's social structure. However, despite recent advances in network approaches, current work tends to focus on misconduct and uses of force, leaving unanswered questions about how social ties can promote positive outcomes, such as officer morale, well-being, and recruitment. To advance the field, we call for comprehensive data across multiple agencies and levels to fully capture the central role of networks in policing.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2046078
- PAR ID:
- 10676187
- Publisher / Repository:
- Annual Reviews
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Annual Review of Criminology
- Volume:
- 9
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2572-4568
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 217 to 237
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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